Growing Pineapples on Fuerteventura

[Archer]

   

The coconuts are coming along nicely in Tarajalejo

Wish mine would grow this well!

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

The first pineapple top that pictured here succumbed to a rotten stem - probably that black spot I saw, but the second one I tried just a few days later seems to be growing, slowly, very slowly, but surely. No 3 is so,so. No 4 not looking too good. Time I bought another one to eat & grow...

No 2 (about 9/10 months down the line).

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

A friend who started growing a pineapple top just after me has got a small fruit forming on hers! I have 6 plants growing but no sign of any fruit yet, still hoping! One plant is now growing rapidly so I'm pinning my hopes on that one. How are other people's coming along?

[Lexeus]

A friend who started growing a pineapple top just after me has got a small fruit forming on hers! I have 6 plants growing but no sign of any fruit yet, still hoping! One plant is now growing rapidly so I'm pinning my hopes on that one. How are other people's coming along?

Fascinating! I read that you only get about 2 pineapples a year from a good tree, so I hope you manage to get a few going strong!

I have had a few small Avocado trees going from my guacamole left overs but unfortunately they all succumbed to the strong sun when I put them outside... maybe next year I will try pineapples. 

I am routing for you and your first produce!   

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Seems my math is way out - I recounted today and I have 12 pineapple plants on the go - oops! Everyone looks different, all these are growing, some faster than others, still no sign of any fruit forming.

 the biggest one so far.

 one of the early ones has developed 2 pups.

 and this one is nicknamed 'the Del Monte'. I bought the fruit because it had 6 growing tips on the one fruit, thought it would be an interesting one to grow on.

Who remembers 'the Man from Del Monte (he says Yes)' 
I actually met the 'Man' one time. He sat next to me on a train from London to Kent in my commuting days. Normally commuters don't speak to each other, most just use their mobiles, very loudly. This guy didn't look like a commuter, very casual clothes, very sun tanned, only baggage was a Virgin Airways carrier bag. The train was a strange one that split halfway through the journey with each half going a different route. He asked me if he was on the right half for somewhere or other, he was popping in to see his Mum as a surprise before he flew back to somewhere else abroad. Anyway, got chatting, he was The Man, he flew all over the world checking the quality of the fruit for Del Monte, very interesting conversation.

[GMT]

The train was a strange one that split halfway through the journey with each half going a different route.

I bet the split was at Faversham. I was on that route for 15 years commuting to London.

I've been growing a pineapple as well for the past 11 months. I got it from a family member in Portugal. I was nearly losing it when I wasn't allowing it to have enough sun and water. It's coming with me to Fuerteventura.

   

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Yep, the Faversham split. Fell asleep once on the wrong half, ended up in Ramsgate instead of tiny station on Dover line! After that set alarm on my phone for 5 mins before Faversham. Which half I got on at Cannon St depended on seat availability. I needed to sleep as I caught the 5.15am up to London each day 😴😢

Re your pineapple, humidity is the most important factor as they get most of their water through their leaves, the root is mainly anchorage.

[GMT]

Re your pineapple, humidity is the most important factor as they get most of their water through their leaves, the root is mainly anchorage.

I didn't know at all. From now on I'll make sure I mist spray the leaves, thanks.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Big panic this morning when I discovered one of my pineapple plants had lost most of it's leaves during the night. Investigation showed that it was infested with cochineal at the base of the leaves, the growing point and the roots. The wind had then done the rest 

  

Nothing for it but off to HiperDino to buy another fruit to eat and plant!

Still no sign of fruiting on any of the others.